Doubtless, you will have seen many estate agents giving advice on how to present your property for sale, but equestrian homes are a different kettle of fish entirely. As horse owners, we naturally tend to focus more on the equine accommodation, facilities and hacking, than the human accommodation, therefore if you are selling a property with equestrian facilities there are certainly more areas to focus on than just the house. Here we try to help you not only maximize the value of your equestrian property, but also the saleability. There are many ways to achieve this with very little, if no expense, and here’s how……..
- The Yard – To show off the facilities you have, tidy everything away. Don’t leave rugs hanging over stable doors. Put them away if you can. If you don’t have a designated rug room or if you need them close to hand, get some bailing twine and hang them neatly either inside or outside the stable. Get some hooks and hang yard tools on the end of the yard and prop barrows up nearby. Collect up all the various brushes and hoof picks and put them in a tray or box somewhere accessible. Get a few hanging baskets or topiary balls to brighten everything up.
- Muck heap – If you have a large muck heap, either get it taken away and start a new pile, keeping it tidy and contained or grab a pitchfork and set to making it neat and square. If anything it will give you a good workout and save some money in gym fees.
- Pressure Washer– Here in Devon we have a lot of weather and that means things go green! Get the steam cleaner out and pressure wash any areas that are looking a little weathered and clean any concrete yards so they are looking spick and span.
- Painting – With horses, there will be a considerable amount of wear and tear, grab a pot of paint and a brush and touch up any areas that may be looking a little tired after a long winter.
- Sand school – In terms of coming to the market, this will be your trump card. An all-weather arena will always be on a potential purchaser’s wish list, so make the most of it. Ensure the surface is in good condition, rake in the sides and grade it. If you haven’t used it for a while, pull out any weeds and make sure the fencing is all sound. Put some fences up to show that there is ample space for jumping. Strim all around the perimeter and even pop a garden bench somewhere as a viewing point, a few pots with flowers will also add a little something extra.
- Other facilities – For example a walker, round pen and all-weather turnout paddocks are all beneficial to the equestrian buyer, so ensure these are all looking well cared for.
- Paddocks – Repair any broken rails, replace rotten posts and tidy up any electric fencing. Pull out any weeds and top the paddocks if necessary.
- Driveway – There is nothing more off-putting to a potential purchaser than bumping and scraping their car down the driveway on the way to their viewing. So fill in any pot holes and make sure any low hanging branches from trees are cut back to allow easy access.
- Tack room – Make an impression by cleaning bridles and hanging them neatly and tidy away girths and numnahs.
- Make sure there is a horse in a stable for a viewing. We love to talk about horses…..but maybe not one that bites!
So there are our top ten tips for preparing your equestrian property for sale. The eleventh would be to pop into the house, plump up the dog beds and put the kettle on!
To discuss your equestrian property sale or purchase, please call Sara Phillis in confidence on 01548 845095 or email equestrian@luscombemaye.com
